HOUSTON – The University of Houston Football team scored in all three phases of the game in a 44-7 win against Rice in the Bayou Bucket Classic Presented by H-E-B at Rice Stadium on Saturday night.
 
The Cougars (1-1) limited Rice (0-2) to 212 yards on the ground and one touchdown. Houston freshman running back Alton McCaskill scored the first three touchdowns of his collegiate career to help clinch Houston’s sixth consecutive victory against the Owls.
 
McCaskill finished with 40 yards on 14 rushes alongside four catches for 51 yards. He becomes the first Houston freshman to score three touchdowns in a game since Bryce Beall against Tulane on Nov. 8, 2008.
 
Houston quarterback Clayton Tune finished the game 22-of-30 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He also posted a game-high 49 rushing yards before exiting in place of backup Ike Ogbogu early in the fourth quarter.
 
The Cougars limited the Owls to minus-3 yards in the third quarter and added three interceptions on the day including a pick for a 91-yard touchdown by Alex Hogan as regulation expired.
 
Nathaniel Dell logged a game-high seven catches for 87 yards and Marcus Jones contributed four catches for 51 yards. Houston amassed 393 yards of total offense and went 8-for-13 on third-down conversions.